The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition
Pwyll, Prince of Dyved
Pwyll agrees to take Arawn’s appearance and rule his court for a year. The exchange sends him into an unfamiliar kingdom while Arawn takes responsibility for Pwyll’s own dominions. Arawn instructs him to meet Havgan and strike only once: another blow would restore the enemy’s strength. The task makes restraint as important as victory in their agreement.
Loading your archive…
In the sources
Principal account
LiteraryPwyll agrees to take Arawn’s appearance and rule his court for a year. The exchange sends him into an unfamiliar kingdom while Arawn takes responsibility for Pwyll’s own dominions.
Further detail
LiteraryArawn instructs him to meet Havgan and strike only once: another blow would restore the enemy’s strength. The task makes restraint as important as victory in their agreement.
Context & interpretation
This entry follows the narrative in Charlotte Guest’s 1877 collection, including its particular spellings and arrangement of tales. Characters, enchantments and explanations of place names are presented as features of these stories; the translation alone does not establish their historical reality or a single original religious meaning.
Original passages
Source 1
The Mabinogion
and I will put my form and semblance upon thee, so that not a page of the chamber, nor an officer, nor any other man that has alwaysOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition; active reader leaf 366
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0240-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0240-E001-P0366
- Original scan leaf
- 367
- Recorded leaf number
- 367
- Current Reader position
- 358
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
The Mabinogion
And this shall be for the space of a year from to-morrow, and then we will meet in this place."Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition; active reader leaf 366
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0240-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0240-E001-P0366
- Original scan leaf
- 367
- Recorded leaf number
- 367
- Current Reader position
- 358
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Continue exploring
Llwyd, Son of Kilcoed
The enchanter who empties Dyved to avenge Gwawl’s humiliation.
Shared source pageAnnwvyn in Pwyll’s Tale
The otherworld kingdom entered through an exchange of royal appearance and duty.
Same subject and traditionArianrod
The mother who places conditions on Llew’s name, arms and marriage.
Same subject and traditionArthur in the Mabinogion
The courtly ruler whose household gathers the companions and quests of Guest’s Welsh romances.
Same subject and traditionBranwen
The princess whose marriage alliance becomes the centre of a catastrophe between two islands.